NFL Player News

The Bengals officially placed Mixon (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Mixon reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 and is not in line to play Sunday against the Browns. Head coach Zac Taylor was less definitive about the matter, noting that Mixon and all the other Bengals players recently placed on the list will have the chance to test out of the protocols before the regular-season finale, according to Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. That said, the Bengals have already secured a home-field advantage for the wild-card round of the playoffs and will need a number of scenarios to work in their favor to move up to the No. 1 seed, so Mixon will more than likely be limited if he clears the protocols before Sunday, if he even dresses for the contest at all. Assuming that's the case, Samaje Perine would be in line to head the Bengals' Week 18 backfield, with Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams in the mix to see complementary work.

Perine likely will work as Cincinnati's lead back Sunday against the Browns, after teammate Joe Mixon tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday, Chase Goodbread of NFL.com reports.

Mixon will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and is expected to miss his first game of the season, with the Bengals unlikely to rush him back even if he's able to quickly clear the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocol. Quarterback Joe Burrow (knee) said he'll be rested for the regular-season finale, so it's a good bet other key Bengals will be held out or play only limited snaps this weekend. Still, it's an excellent opportunity for Perine, who has 55 carries for 246 yards (4.5 YPC) and a touchdown this season, plus 27 catches for 196 yards on 31 targets. He's seen a lot of his playing time on third downs with Mixon enjoying a relatively healthy season, but Perine is far from a passing-down specialist. Cincinnati's other backfield options sans Mixon would be Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams.

Sanders (hand) isn't practicing Wednesday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Head coach Nick Sirianni already acknowledged that Sanders is unlikely to return for Saturday's regular-season finale against the Cowboys. Meanwhile, fellow Eagles backs Jordan Howard and Boston Scott were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, potentially leaving Kenneth Gainwell in a key role Week 18, though Howard and Scott still have time to clear the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocol. Sanders, on the other hand, likely is targeting the playoffs for his return from a broken hand.

Barkley (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report, Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Once again, the Giants are capping Barkley's practice reps due to the ankle issue that has plagued him for much of the season. He's coming off his first 100-yard rushing performance of the campaign from this past Sunday's loss to Chicago, pushing him to averages of 17.3 touches for 68.9 yards from scrimmage per game across seven contests since he returned Week 11 from a stint on injured reserve. There's been no indication that the team intends to shut down Barkley in Week 18 against Washington, but his status nonetheless should be monitored to ensure he's out there Sunday.

Gibson was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a hip injury, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Gibson has dealt with toe and hip injuries of late after playing through a shin stress fracture for most of the season, but his only absence of the campaign came in the Week 17 loss to Philadelphia after he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Jaret Patterson stepped up with Gibson out last Sunday, taking 17 touches for 98 yards and a touchdown while playing 62 percent of snaps on offense. After being activated from the list earlier Wednesday, Gibson tentatively appears on track to play Week 18 against the Giants, though he could cede more work to Patterson as the Football Team aims to preserve his health heading into the offseason.

Head coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday that Jones (ankle) is using a walking boot and won't try to run until later this week, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Jones isn't practicing Wednesday, and based on Arians' comments, the running back doesn't seem especially likely to make it back on the field Thursday or Friday. Meanwhile, Ke'Shawn Vaughn's rib injury is said to be minor, potentially making him the lead back for Sunday's game against Carolina. The Bucs also have Le'Veon Bell, and possibly Giovani Bernard (knee), as options at running back for Week 18. Looking further ahead, the Bucs reportedly are optimistic Leonard Fournette (hamstring) will be back from injured reserve for the opening round of the playoffs, per Dianna Russini of ESPN.

Tennessee designated Henry (foot) for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Dianna Russini of ESPN reported Tuesday that Henry was expected to make his long-awaited return to practice Wednesday, and the transaction now makes the matter official. The Titans now have a 21-day window to evaluate Henry's health in practice while not having him count toward the 53-man roster until he's officially activated from IR. Henry hasn't played since Oct. 31, when he suffered a broken bone in his right foot in a win over the Colts that required surgery days later. According to Russini, Henry is a "long shot" to make it back for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Texans, but if the Titans are able to clinch the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win, the star running back will have a good chance at being available for Tennessee's first playoff game in the divisional round.

The Steelers activated McFarland (undisclosed) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

McFarland was forced to miss the last two games after being placed on the COVID-19 list, but he'll now be able to return to practice. The 22-year-old should continue to see minimal work out of Pittsburgh's backfield in Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Ravens.

Washington activated Gibson (hip) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

Gibson can now return to team facilities and begin preparing for Washington's season finale Sunday against the Giants. Though he's overcome his bout with the virus, Gibson's lingering hip injury could still complicate his Week 18 availability, so his participation in practices Wednesday through Friday will need to be monitored closely. The Football Team also has rookie Jaret Patterson available, after he served as the lead back in the Week 17 loss to the Eagles while Gibson was out of the lineup.

Jones (ankle) isn't participating in the early portion of Wednesday's practice, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

The Buccaneers have yet to disclose the results of the recent MRI that Jones underwent after he suffered the ankle injury in the team's Week 17 win over the Jets. Meanwhile, Ke'Shawn Vaughn (ribs) was spotted on the practice field Wednesday, but veteran Le'Veon Bell may be the only fully healthy running back currently on Tampa Bay's roster.